GCSANC Annual Meeting Award Winner 2014 George Santana Distinguished Service Award
Gary K. Carls CGCS, San Jose, CA
The George Santana Distinguished Service Award is presented to a dedicated chapter member, for their long-standing commitment to the GCSANC and the turf care industry. This year’s recipient of the George Santana Distinguished Service Award is Gary K. Carls, CGCS. This highly-respected GCSANC member has been involved with the game of golf since his high school years when he caddied at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan. During college he packed the bag at Bay Hill. He is a graduate of Michigan 2014 GCSANC George Santana Distinguished Service Award winner Gary Carls, CGCS, is State University with a bachelor’s degree in joined by Annual Meeting keynote speaker and NFL Hall of Famer Raymond Chester. Landscape Architecture and a Certificate in Turfgrass Management. In the early 80’s, a job opportunity as a Construction/Grow-In Superintendent became available at Shoreline Golf Links (Mountain View, CA), so Gary wrapped up his construction job in Michigan and headed West. Following Shoreline, he worked as an Irrigation Specialist at Los Altos Golf & Country Club. Next, he served as the golf course maintenance director at San Jose Municipal Golf Course and Santa Teresa Golf Course (San Jose, CA). Gary completed his formal golf maintenance career in 2014, after 15 years of dedicated service as Golf Operation Manager for the City of Sunnyvale, where he did a stellar job managing a staff of 16 and maintaining two busy public facilities— Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course and Sunken Gardens Golf Course. A certified golf course superintendent, Gary served on the chapter’s Board of Directors for five years and was elected president in 2000. During his 30-plus years with the GCSANC, Gary served on several committees, including 20+ years on the Institute/ Education Committee. Additionally, he served on the GCSAA National Board for two years (and on its Scholarship, Membership and Education Committees) and for five years on the California State Board. Gary’s work expands beyond the association. He is a founding member of the California Alliance for Golf (CAG), and served on its inaugural Water Committee. Today, he continues to serve in a leadership role as president of the Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative (OTEI), an organization that introduces youth to careers in sports turf and golf course management. Because of his professional acumen, strong mentoring skills and overall dedicated service to the association, in 1997 Gary was named Golf Course Superintendent of the Year, and in 2004 he was bestowed the George Santana Distinguished Service Award, which makes this recent award a well-deserved repeat. Thank you, Gary, for your contributions to our association and to community as you have made a tremendous difference in the lives of others.
T he G olf C ourse S uperintendents A ssociation
of
N orthern C alifornia 13